New York Back Injury

A back injury is one of the most painful, debilitating injuries that can result from an accident. Back injuries can affect the functioning of your legs, arms, and neck. Back injuries often require extended treatment and limit your ability to function both at home and at work. Unfortunately, back injuries are one of the most common types of injuries that result from accidents. In fact, nearly 45% of back injuries are the result of a car accident or some other type of vehicle accident. Slip and fall accidents account for about 25% of falls, while sports activities and acts of violence account for about 25% of back injuries. If your back was injured in an accident due to the negligence of another person, contact a New York Back Injury Lawyer, who will review the facts of your case and who will explain your legal options.

There are several types of back injuries. The most common include muscle strains or ligament sprains, vertebral fractures, herniated discs, and spinal compression. A muscle or ligament strain can result from repeatedly lifting heavy objects. A vertebral fracture occurs when there is some sort of trauma to the vertebrate such as might happen in a car accident or in a fall. A herniated disc can be caused by an injury to the spine that leaves tiny tears or cracks in a disc. As a result, the disc exerts pressure on nerves in the spinal cord, causing pain or weakness in the neck, shoulders, back, legs, feet or arms.

Signs of a back injury do not only include pain in the back. Signs also include pain radiating down a leg, weakness or numbness in the legs or feet, bowel or bladder problems, abdominal pain, and neck pain. Furthermore, a back injury could also mean that you have injured your spinal cord. A spinal cord injury can lead to serious conditions such as paraplegia or quadriplegia. Paraplegia is the complete paralysis of the trunk and lower extremities, while quadriplegia is the complete paralysis of the trunk and all four extremities.

Symptoms of a spinal injury vary and may not appear for days or even months after your accident. Symptoms may include extreme back pain, lack of coordination, incontinence, difficult breathing, muscle spasms and pressure in your back, head or neck, difficulty walking, or loss of sensation in your hands, fingers, feet or toes.

Depending on the type and seriousness of a back injury, you may be unable to work for a substantial amount of time. Furthermore, in some cases a back injury may prevent you from performing certain types of work that requires heavy lifting or the use of heavy equipment. Ultimately you may not be able to earn the amount of money you would have been able to earn had you not suffered a back injury. Holding the negligent person accountable through a personal injury lawsuit may result in the compensation you need to provide you and your family with needed financial relief. Through a personal injury lawsuit you may receive compensation for losses you suffered. For example, you may receive damages for both your past and future medical expenses. Medical expenses including emergency room services, hospital stay, surgery, prescriptions and rehabilitation. You also may be entitled to receive damages to cover your lost wages if you miss work while you recover. Lost wages includes the paychecks you miss as well as the value of sick and vacation days that you used during your recovery. If as a result of your injury you are unable to earn the amount of money you otherwise would have, you may be entitled to damages for loss of earning capacity. The physical and emotional pain that you endured are also compensable in a personal injury lawsuit.

If you or a loved one was injured in an accident that left you with a back injury, you should contact an experienced attorney who understands both the legal issues associated with personal injury cases as well as the medical implications of back injuries. Stephen Bilkis and Associates is experienced in handling personal injury cases stemming from auto, truck, motorcycle, boat, and construction accidents. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case.